The fro speaks #8: “We now interrupt this broadcast…”

Somebody once asked, could I spare some change for gas?
I need to get myself away from this place.
I said, 'yep, what a concept - I could use a little fuel myself
and we could all use a little change.'
                - "All Star" by Smash Mouth (Interscope Records 1999)

I needed a little change.

It kind of all started from there and then it transformed into a new line of work – isn’t that how life kind of rolls sometimes?

I’ll admit it comes with a weird feeling too though.

A bittersweetness which sometimes, it feels, can’t be overstated. My newsminded eye still picks out stories combing over the late night Facebook feed, my instinct is still to call someone and ask them, “what’s the scoop?”

Perhaps, what I’ll be best known for is telling interviewees they’d “written my story for me.”

Honestly, I wasn’t lying. In terms of the sentiment, I mean.

In a nutshell that seems to represent what excites me about journalism in so many ways – that ability to capture and share voices and stories so quickly and (hopefully) effectively.

I didn’t have complete experience in journalism when I started with Dougall Media, but I’d written a lot over the course of my undergrad and masters degrees and was a member of – at one point Editor-in-Chief for – the English Students Association.

It was an opportunity to try something new, challenge myself, and put my writing skills to proper use.

At the same time I got to work alongside Clint (aka my Brother from the North) and learn about so much of what makes Northern Ontario tick – the people at all levels, from the folks you meet at a coffee shop in Geraldton to the council chambers of Marathon, the offices of Matawa, mingling among provincial ministers at conferences like NOMA and regional representatives at ROMA.

So much is happening. There are still stories I’d love to write – maybe one day I will.

For a little more insight, I’d check out this article I wrote in December about what type of stories I enjoy purusing.

Keep in mind, I only covered everywhere east of Thunder Bay.

My former colleague, Mike Stimpson (with his doctorate in punny humour and encyclopedic knowledge of all things Prince), could speak better to what goes on in the west. I was fortunate to learn as much as I did from him in my year at Dougall.

I could go on…

My first road trip with (local celebrity) Leigh Nunan. Sure, it wasn’t the furthest we’d drive – Red Rock was only about an hour and change away. Still, it was a chance to finally stretch my legs and get out onto the ground, meet people in-person.

It was everything and more than I could have imagined.

It was just the beginning.

And then, of course, there are all the hijincks that we got up to after that fateful voyage.

If there was a story Leigh was pursuing for Northwest Newsweek, you’d likely find me tagging along.

It was fascinating.

I learned much, I laughed a lot, and I may have eaten too much Chinese food in Marathon.

All jokes aside, I couldn’t be more grateful for the time I spent learning, growing, and honing my skills. I think I have yet to entirely fathom how pivotal this time has been in my life and how much I will carry this experience with me moving forward.

That said, journalism and I are not over with yet!

The future is a mysterious and beautiful and unpredictable thing full of wonder, whimsy, and some other alliteration I can’t think of at this exact moment.

I’m going to miss a lot of people and seeing those familar faces around the office.

I’m going to probably continue to twitch when I see something newsworthy and can’t take it to story meeting and pitch it myself.

I know, it’s going to take time.

On the other hand, I couldn’t be more excited to embark on my next adventure.

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So, what happens now?

Exciting things – I guess I can say since it’s official: I’m the new Communications Specialist for the Port of Thunder Bay.

I can’t divulge too much about the role yet other than that it’s temporary (in the sense that I’m covering someone’s maternity leave), something new and different, and I’m already enjoying it.

The atmosphere, the people I get to work with, and the opportunity to get an even better understanding of Thunder Bay – from an economic and touristy perspective, among others – all make me feel like this is going to be a fantastic fit.

Other than that, Clint and I are nearly ready to relaunch (or ressurect?) our podcast, High on Hollywood, this September. Siobhan and I are heading to a Browning family reunion. And I’m pretty sure it’s about high time to check-in with my beta reader for The Book of Naz to learn how my first crack at a full length novella was likely a rough read (but it’s WRITTEN – I can say that… what the heck?!).

Oh, and we upgraded our digs for weekly jam night this past Thursday (with many thanks to our gracious hosts, if you’re reading this).

It was a fun field trip and something we’re likely to do again at some point.

Which I guess brings me to the realization that I never mentioned Jam Night here before!

Every Thursday, my friends and I commiserate to learn various instruments or practice / build on already existent skills. I’m currently learning the guitar. Expect occasional updates on that front – I have to say, it’s been going very well so far.

I’m also always roaming around the world of theatre, so stay tuned for more there as well (and at least one retrospective I’ve been meaning to write).

Anyway, that’s about it for me at the moment.

A brief but important life update and a multitude of things on the horizon – pretty much your average transition out of the summer and into the fall.

Oh yes, folks, it’s happening: I can already feel the air crispening, the last dying gasps of hot, humid summer days fading into the leaf-swirled, cinnamon and pumpkin-infused, macabre madness and witchiness of Autumn.

We are nearly there.

In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your summer.